Starting device for explosive-engines.



C. ML LEE.

STARTING DEVICE FOR BXPLOSIVB ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED DB0. 26, 1911.

1,044,545, Patented Nov. 19,1912.`

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C. M. LEE.

STARTING DEVICE POB. EXPLOSIVE ENGINES. v APPLIOATION'HLED 13110.26, 1911. l'

1,044,546;- Patented N0v.19,1912.

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mj/it?, Ilma@ mm 'lg Mz lov "invention has for its object the provision of i. with the crank-shaft and it "comin r CHARLES lV. LEE, OF BUFFALO,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F MANNS, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 26, 1911.

atented Nov. t9, i912. Serial No, 66?,801.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known thaty l, CHARLES M. Len, a citizen of the United States, residing Buti'alo, in the county of Erie and ,State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStarting Devices for Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates to starting devices for internal combustion engines and' more particularly to that class of starting devices which include a crank handle or other operating element adapted, upon actuation, to cause rotation ot the engine cranl'vshatt and thereby reciprocate the engine piston or pistons for the purpose ot' drawing into the cylinder or cylinders and compressing therein the initial l g i i l l l l the combustible mixture to eti'ect explosion and start theoperation of the engine. lin explosive engines, for one canse or another, a reverse action of the crank-shaft sometimes occurs when the initial explosion takes place, which causes a sudden and Severe backward force to loe exerted against the forward movement exerted by the operator onthe crank, which sudden forcible reverse action is apt to cause injury to the l operator. l

`W ith a View of eliminating this evil, my

simple, inexpensive and positively acting satetyniecluniism to be preferably used in connection with the present form of starting-crank and whereinprovision is made to etlicctually and automatically relieve the crank from the reverse actionl of the crank` shaft in the event of a back-fire occurring in the engine. y

l/Vhile in the drmvings t have shown my invention applied `to a separate cranking or starting shaft adapted to be connected with I the engine crank-shaft. for turning the same to start the engine. such an arrangement is merely representative of one of the. manyl forms capable of use for making connection I that the use of other forms or constructions l of operating handles or elements may be; resorted to without departing 'from the spirit i of the invention. l

My invention cous-ists in the novel features i ot construction` and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter deis therefore plain the rear wall thereof", as at 19.

scribed and particularly suhjoined claims. l i

ln the accompanying drawings illustratlng my invention by way of exainple,-li`ig ure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved Starting device in, what now consider, the preferred embodiment, the crank handle being in position to start the engine. Fig'. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on line ac--a;', Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an en` larged cross section taken on line .fz/gh Fig. l. Fig. t is a section similar to Fig. 1 with pointed out in the the starting-shaft unlocked from the crank handle. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached perspective view ot the lock-key. Fig.` G is an enlarged cross section taken on line eme, Fig. l

Referring'now to the drawings in detail by reference numerals, l designates the en gine crankshaft or it may represent a shaft from which mot-ion may be imparted to the crank-shaft, and 2 represents the startingshaft, both having clutch members 3, et, at adjacent ends which are adapted to co-act when starting the engine. A support 5 in the form of a bracket is secured to the chassis 6 ot' an automobile or other structure, depending of course on the type of engine with which it is to be used or to the use the engine is to be putto. To the support 5 a casing 7 is secured, which easing, in the particular form illustrated` is oval in formation and has a rear wall 8 lying in contact with said support and an endless side confining wall 9.` A ratchet-wheel l0 is confined in said casing and has 1mb-portions 1l, 1Q on opposite sides thereotl which tit. respectively. into openings 13,14 formed in the rear wall 8 and cover l'of the'casing and it also has an axial boss 5l which extends into the support 5. yThe cover 1 5 lits onto the easing and is secured thereto by means of screws 16. The rear wall S, the cover i5 and the support 5, 'therefore serve as bearings for the ratchet-wheel into the bore of which the startingshaft 2 fits, said starting-shaft therefore is supported indirectly in the support 5 and it also extends a considerable distance in front and iu rear of the same.

Nithin the casing 'T are contined a series oldogs 1T which are pivotally secured to and are spring pressed against thc teeth ot' the ratchetwheel; trigger or other suitable ONEMTHIRD To DANIEL n.l

springs 19 being provided for this purpose. l ln the drawings I have shown three springpressed dogs so arranged relative to the teeth of the ratchet-wheelI that if said vvheel is turned a ldistance equaling one-third the length or pitch of one tooth, assurance is had that it vvill be firmly held against retrograde movement. VThis may, however, be otherwise arranged and the 'number of dogs to he used could be in accordance vvith the desires of the constructor.

' In the embodiment of my invention shown I have employed a crank-handle QOas the operating element. yThis handle is provided vvith a suitable hand-grasp 21 at its outer end and With an enlargement or head Q2 at its inner end, said head having a shaft-bore Q3 provided advisedly with a babbitt or other suitable lining` Q4, and with a socket 25 in rear of said bore. The starting-shaft Q has a slight reduction 26 near its outer end which fits into the bahbitt lined bore Q3. and the shoulder QT ot` the shaft thus .formed bears against a shoulder 28 formed at t-he meeting of said hor-e with said socket. The extremity of said starting-shaft is further reduced in diameter and on it is threaded a nut 29, thus holding the crank-handle in fixed relation lengthwise of the shaft. The ratchet-Wlieel lO has a key-Way 30 with one side beveled or inclined, as at 3l, and its other ahrupt, as at 3Q, andthe crank-handle is also provided with a key-Way 33, vvhich differs, however, from the key-way 30 in that it has both sides abrupt and is therefore. a standard key-Way. The starting-shaft 2 has a longitudinal key' slot 34 formed therein which extends preferably from its thread: ed extremity toa point beyond the support or bracket 5. In this key-slot is arranged a loch-key 35 which has free movement therein and at its inner'end is oppositely tapered, as at 3G, and provided on o-pposite edges near said end with protruding bearing points Through said lock-key in line with said bearing points is a pin hole 38 and in the starting-shaft near the rear end of its "key-slot is a pin hole 39 With which the pin hole 3S is alined. Surrounding the starting-shaft at this point is a stop-sleeve 40 ivhich limits the outward movement of Athe starting-shaft when it comes in contact with the support 5. Said sleeve is provided at diametrieally opposite points vvith pin holes 4l. which registervvvith the pin holes 38 and 39. Passing through these registering pin holes is a pin 42 which serves a double purpose: namely, that of a pivot for the lock-key 35 and as a means of fastening the stop-sleeve in place. It vvill be noted that the pin hole 3S in the lock-key is flared toward opposite ends, thus providing the necessary play to permit the lock- .key to swing thereon, said key being thus allowed to move into or out of its key slot.

By providing the lock-key with the oppositely protruding hearing-points 37, which bear, respectively, against the inner' vvall of the key slot and the inner surface of the top-sleeve 40, and by-oppositely tapering the rear end of said key, the latter has freedom in action and friction is reduced to the minimum.

The lock-key is provided on its outer edge vvith tvvo protruding parts or lugs 43, 44, corresponding in length or approximately so to the key-Ways 30, 33, respectively, with which they are adapted to co-act. Excepting said lugs, the lock-key is at all times wholly confined Within the key-slot 34 so that it oii'ers no obstruction at any time or under any conditions to the free turning of the shaft. The lug 43 which is adapted to co-act with the key-Way 30 in the ratchet- 'Wheel is beveled at one side, as at 45, to correspond vvith the beveled Wall 31 of Asaid seat, and for a purpose to be made clear hereafter.

lVitliin the key-slot 34 bet'vveen its inner Wall and the lock-key 35 is a spring 46, vvhich at all times exerts its force to swing said key outvvard on its pivotl pin, andrvvhen the key-Way in the crank-handle and the key-way 30 in the ratchet-Wheel are in line with said key, the latter is forced into them by said spring. Surrounding the startingshaft is an expansion spring 47 which, when the crank-handle is in Vnormal position shovvn in Fig. 4. has one end fitting into the socket 25 of said crank-handle and bearing against the shoulder E28 therein and its other end hearing against the outer hub-portion 11 of the ratchet-Wheel.' Said spring serves to keep the starting-shaft out of engagement with the engine shaft or the shaft connected vvith the engine, as the case may be, so that the engine may operate without imparting motion to the starting-shaft. Fastened into the ratchet-wheel l() and projecting outvvard therefrom is a retainer pin 48 Which fits into a comparatively deep segmentallyshaped pocket 4f) formed in the head or enlargement of the crank-handle from its inner side. The purpose of said retainer pin is to allow the crank-handle slight retrograde movement independent ot' the ratchetwheel during a back-lire. such movement being sufficient only to allow the beveled side 45 of the lock-key to ride up the co-acting beveled face 31 of the key-Way B0-in the ratchet-wheel to compel the lock-key to be' moved inward and thus be withdrawn from the key-seat 33 in the crank-handle. This slight reverse movement of the crank-handle is hardly perceptible to the operator Who may he exerting force against the handle in a forward direction, as the releasing of the key from the handle is almost instantaneous. The said segmental pocket 49 and retainer pin 48 also assure proper engage- -since in the ment of the lock-key with its key-ways in the ratchet-wheel l0 and crank-handle Q() attempt to turn the crankhandle to the right when starting the engine, the retainer pin is broughtin contact with the right hand end 50 of said pocket and causes the ratchet-wheel to turn with the crank-handle and when the parts are in this position the key- 'ays in the ratchetwheel and crank-handle are in line and when brought to the position the lock-key may be in (which may4 stop at any point after a back-fire depending` on the momentum said key will enter said key-ways and consequently cause the starting-shaft to turn, which when forced inward against the action of the expansion spring 4t? will bring its clutch member 3 in engagement with the clutch member 4 of the engine shaft and cause the same to turn.

The operation of the device is as follows The operating crank-handle may be in the position shown in Fig. l with the lock-key entered into the key-ways of said handle and ratchet-wheel, or in a position in which the lock-key is out of engagement with said key-ways. .Vhen the parts are in the positions last-mentioned, the retainer pin may be at the left hand end of the segmental pocket 4 5) .or in an intermediate position therein and when said pin is in either of the two last-mentioned positions, the turning of the crank-handle to the right will bring the right hand end of the segmental pocket tf'against said retainer pin, at which time the key-way in the crankhandle is brought in line with the key-way of the ratchet-wheel, after which said crankhandle and ratchet-wheel are turned together so that when their key-ways are brought opposite the lock-key, the latter will be forced thereinto to lock the startingshaft to said ratchet-wheel and crankhandle. During this action the operator forces the crank-hamllc inward against the actiouof the expansion spring 47 and carries the starting-shaft inward so that its clutch member 3 engages -that of the engineshaft'. During this turningmovement of the crank-handle and the inward movement of the starting-shaft, the inner lug 43 on the lock-key is moved in the transverse plane of the key-way 30 in the ratchet-wheel so that when said lock-key is forced outward it may enter said key-way. Now, upon continuing the rotary movement of the crank-handle the starting-shaft is rotated with it and as the clutch-member of the said Startingshaft is in engagement with the clutch-member of the engine-shaft, the latter is caused to rotate as well, thus imparting the recip- `roeating movement to the pistons of the engine for the purpose of causing ignition of the explosive mixture within the engine i t, l l l l l l l l l l l ment by one of said dogs, with which the starting-shaft 1s turned), the f ing said shaft from the crank-luindle so that and automatic operation of the latter. The. ratchet-wheel l0 is caused. to rotate with the starting-shaft and crank-handle and the dogs 17 snap over the respective teeth of the sameso as to allow free rotation of said ratchet-wheel; but if, by reason of a premature ekplosion or for any other reason, back-tiring takes place Iin the engine so as to cause a sudden and forcible reverse movementoftheengine shaft, which movement is imparted to the starting-shaft, the ratchet-wheel is held against reverse movethus causing the lock-key to be forced inward and disengagit may rotate independent of the latter. No perceptible rearward movement is therefore imparted to the crank-handle, and by reason of this the operator is protected against injury.

Ha ving thus described my invention, what T claim is,-

l. A, starting-device comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft held against vretrograde movement, an operatingr element also on said shaft adapted to rotate the same in one direction, a locking device on said shaft adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel and operating element vand arranged to he disconnected therefrom upon reverse movement of said shaft.

2. i starting-device comprising a rotatably mounted shaft having a longitudinal .key-slot, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft held against retrograde movement, anv operating element also on said shaft, said ratchetwheel and operating element having keyways, and a lock-key tting into the keyslot of said shaft: and movable inwardly and outwardly, said 'lock-key being adapted for enga gement with said key-ways when manually rotating said shaft in one direction and being' arranged to become disengaged from said key-'ways upon reverse movement of said shaft.

3, A. starting-device comprising a rotatably mounted shaft having a longitudinal slot therein, a lock-key arranged in said slot and spring-pressed outwardly, a ratchetwheel on said shaft having a key-way and being held against retrograde movement, and an operating element on said shaft having a key-way, said lock-key being forced into said key-waysto cause rotation of said shaft in one direction when actuating said operating element and being arranged vto recede into said key-slot when said shaft is CTC key-way therein, means to prevent retrograde movement .of said ratchet-wheel a prank-handle also on said shaft and having a key-waytherein, and an. expansion-spring surrounding said shaft and bearing-with one end against said ratchet-wheel and with its other end against said crank-handle, said crank-handle being alsoV held against lengthwise movement cn said shaft and said lockkey being adapted to engage said key-ways to allow said shaft to be rotated manually in one direction and to become disengaged from said key-ways when said shaft is forcibly rotated in the opposite direction.

5. A starting-device comprising a rotatably mounted shaft having a longitudinal key-slot therein, a lock-key arranged in said slot, a spring serving to force said key outward, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft allowing the ,latter to move lengthwise therein and having a key-way adapted to receive said lock-key, means to prevent retrograde movement of said ratchet-wheel, a retainer pin extending outwardly from said ratchetwheel, avcrank-handle on said shaft held against movement thereon lengthwise and having a key-way also adapted to receive said lock-key and a segmental pocket adapted to receive said retainer pin, said seg-- mental-pocket being of sufficient depth to allow said crank-handle and said shaft to be forced inwardly, and a spring resisting inward movement of said shaft and crankhandle, ysaid lock-key and key-ways being formed to permit said key'to be automatically disengaged from said key-ways on forcible reverse movement of said shaft.

6. The combination ofan engine shaft, a starting shaft, and means for connecting said shafts and arranged to cause them to turn together in one direction, said startingshaft being mounted for lengthwise and for rotatable movement; an operating element for rotating said starting shaft in one direction, radially movable means 0n said starting-shaft for locking said operating element thereto, and a ratchet-wheel on said shaft held against retrograde movement and also adapted to be engaged by said radially movable means, said radially movable means being disengaged from said operating element and said ratchet-wheel upon forcible reverse movement of said starting-shaft, and means to hold said ratchet-wheel against retrograde movement.

7. The combination of an engine shaft, a starting-shaft manually rotatable in one direction, a ratchet-wheel on said startingshaft held against retrograde movement, a crank-handle also on said starting-shaft, and a radially movable lockkey on said starting-shaft adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel, a lockdevice to cause said ratchet-wheel and starting-shaft to be moved by said crank-handle in one direction and tol cause disengagement of said starting shaft from said ratchet-wheel and crank-handle i when said starting-shaft is rotated in an opposite direction.

8. A starting-device comprising a rotatably mounted shaft having a key-slot arranged lengthwise therein, a lock-key movable radially in said slot and having two lugs on its outer edge, one of said lugs being beveled at one side, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft having a key-way beveled on one side and adapted for co-action with said .beveled lug, means to prevent retrograde movement of said'ratchet-wheel, a crankhandle on said shaft having a key-way adapted to receive the other lug of said lockkey to cause the crank-handle and ratchet- Vwheel'to be rotated in one direction upon turning said crank-handle, said beveled lug `and said beveled key-way servingv to cause disengagement of said crank-handle from said shaft when the latter is rotated in an opposite direction.

9. The combination of an engine shaft, a starting-shaft having a longitudinal keyslot therein, means connecting said shafts and constructed to cause them to turn together in one direction, a lock-key in said key-slot, a ratchet-wheel on said startingshaft allowing the same to move lengthwise therein and having a key-Way adapted t0 receive said lock-key, said ratchet-wheel being held against retrograde movement and alsoag'ainst movement lengthwise on said starting-shaft, a crank-handle held to said starting-shaft against lengthwise movement thereon and having a key-way adapted to receive said lock-key, said lock-key and keyways being constructed to cause rotation of said starting-shaft and said ratchet-wheel upon turning said crank-handle in one direction and to cause disengagement of said lock-key from said key-ways upon reverse rotation of said starting-shaft.

l0. A starting-device comprising a bracket, a casing on said bracket, a shaft rotatably mounted and lengthwise movable through said bracket and having a longitudinal keyslot therein, a. ratchet-wheel in said casing through which said shaft is passed and having a key-way therein, means within said casing to prevent retrograde movement of said ratchet-wheel, a crank-handle secured to said shaft in a' manner to prevent lengthwise movement thereon and having a keyway therein, retaining meanshetiveen said ratchet-wheel and crank-handle allowing said handle limited independent movement and compelling Said ratchet-wheel to be moved with said crank-handle in one direction when the key-ways in both are alined, a spring resisting lengthwise movement. of said shaft, anda lock-key in said key-slot adapted to enter said key-ways to cause rotation of said shaft and ratchet-wheel when turning said-crank-handle in one direction and to release said crank-handle and said ratchet-wheel from said shaft when the iatter is forcibly rotated in an opposite direction. l

,11. A starting-device comprising `a rotatable shaft having a longitudinal key-slot, a lock-key in said-slot, a sleeve surroundingsaid shaft, a pin passing through said sleeve, said'shaft and said .lock-key whereby said key is pivotally vheld Within said slot, a

spring in rear -of said keytending to force the same' outward, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft heldagainst retrogrademovement and having a key-way adapted to be engaged by said look-key, and a crank-handle on said shaft having a'- key way adapted to be engaged bysaidl lock-key, said crank-handle being held against lengthwise movement of said shaft7 and said lock-key and the v key-way in said rathhet-wheel being constructed to cause disengagement of said key protruding parts, a sleeve surrounding said' shaft, and a pin passing through said sleeve, said shaft and the pin hole of said lock-key.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES M. LEE.

Witnesses:

EMIL EUHART, ELIZABETH Hnm'rz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' i Washington, 1J. C. 

